Restaurant check holder



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Nov. 12, 1-935.A E. A. HAvELEs RESTAURNT vCHECK HOLDER Filed Jan. 1,v 193s Nov. 12, 1935. E. A. /HAvELEs RESTAURANT CHECK HOLDER Filed Jan.` 2l,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nventor 7am/0a A b21/256 E d/ @3 @www v I attorney Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES smear orrics 7 Claims.

My invention relates to a restaurant check holder and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a check holder of this class which supports a multiplicity of restaurant checks in the form of a roll;

Second, to provide a check holder of this class which incorporates means for punching the check so as to designate particular indicia on the check whereby the amount of the bill may be readily ascertained;

Third, to provide a check holder of this class in which the checks may be readily and quickly threaded therethrough; v

Fourth, to provide a check holder of this class which is adapted to be fastened to the counter in front of the several seats;

Fifth, to provide a check holder which not only encases the roll of checks but also conceals the punching means from the patron so as to reduce to a Ininimum any tampering with the punching device;

Sixth, to provide a particularly simple and easily constructed check punch for a restaurant check holder;

Seventh, to provide a simple but complete restaurant check, particularly suited for connection end to end so as to form a continuous roll of checks, and Y Eighth, to provide on the whole a novelly constructed restaurant check holder which is simple and economical of manufacture, durable, eicient in its action, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order. Y

`With these and other objects in View as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of one embodiment of my check holder; Fig. 2 is a sectional View thereof through 2-2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the punching' mechanism taken through 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View thereof showing the manner of securing it to the check holder'taken through 4-4 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view through 5 5 of Fig. 2. Figure 6 is a perspective View of a second embodiment of my restaurant check holder; Fig. 7 is a sectional view thereof through 'l-,l of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional Viewl thereof through 8--8 of Fig. 7 illustrating particularly the check punching means, and Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional View through 9-9 of Fig. 7 showing a portion of the roll of checks. Figure 10 is a plan view of the check used in conjunc- 5 tion with my check holder.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings.

Casing i, punch frame 2, die frame 3, screw 4, 10 punch members 5, springs 6, pins l, spindle 8, screws 9, casing l l, punch frame l2, punch members I3, springs I4, pins l5, screws IB, spindle il, and checks2l, constitute the principal parts and portions of my novel restaurant check hold- 15 er and check therefor.

Attention is particularly directed to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive. In the structure here illustrated there is provided a casing i which includes a top portion la having depending side wall portions at its opposite longer sides. The top portion la is of sufficient Width to space the side portions lb so as to receive a roll of restaurant chtecks, which will be described in detail hereinaf er.

Y At one end the top portion la and the adjacent corners of the sidewalls lb are cut away forming a notched portion lc. At this end the top portion ia is provided with a depending ap Id. A channel shaped punch frame 2 is positioned 30 in the notched portion lc with its base disposed vertically against the flap ld. The upper wall of the channel, designated 2a, is approximately flush with the top `portion la of the casing. A U-shaped die frame 3 is provided which includes 35 a top portion 3a adapted to extend over and along the top wall 2a of the punch frame, and depending end Walls 3b which extend over and cover the ends of the channel member or punch frame so as tol lill the notched portion lc. The 40 end walls 3b are provided With inturned portions Y 3c along their side walls adjacent the flap ld which extend inwardly therealong and are secured to the base portion, designated 2b, ofthe punch frame so that both the die frame and punch frame may be secured as a unit into the notched portion ic, by means of a screw 4 extending throughthe base portion 2b of the channel member or punch frame 2 into the flap ld.

.The top portion 3a of the die frame 3 is spaced 50 upwardly from the top wall 2a of the punch frame 2 so as to form a slit through which the checks may be fed. Adjacent its extermities the top portion 3a of the die frame is provided with die elements 3d in the form of apertures. These 55 aline with guide holes 2c provided in the upper and lower walls of the punch frame 2. The holes 2c slidably support punch members 5 the lower ends of which extend below the punch frame and are provided with suitable button portions 5a, and the upper ends, designated 5b, are beveled so as to coact with the die elements 3d when the button portions 5a are pressed upwardly,V as shown best in Fig. 3. Between the die elements 3d the die frame 3 is provided with a pair of slots 3e.

Between the upper and lower walls of the punch frame 2 the shanks of the punch members are surrounded by springs 6, the lower ends of which rest upon pins 1 which traverse the respective punch members. The springs tend to hold the punch members in their lower position and the pins limit the action of the springs.

The end of the top portion Ia opposite from the notched portion Ic is provided with a tension means through which the check means is drawn. The tension means is formed by slitting the top portion Ia transversely, as indicated by Ie and If. Between the slit le and the adjacent end of the top portion I a the web thus formed, designated lg, is pressed so as to be semi-cylindrical inv section with its curved side up. The next web, designated Ih, is iiat. Beyond the inner slit I f the adjacent portion is bent downwardly, as

indicated by Iy', so as to engage the end of a strip of checks threaded over the web I g and under the web Ih and guide the strip onto the top of the portion Ia so that it may be threaded between the upper wall 2a of the punch frame and the top portion 3a of the die frame.

The side walls Ib of the casing support a spindle 8 which is adapted to receive a roll of restaurant checks, to be described hereinafter.

One of the side walls Ib is provided near its Lipper margin with out-turned stop portions Ik which are adapted to rest upon the upper side of a counter C or the like when the corresponding side wall Ib is positioned against the edge thereof, as shown in Fig. 5. The casing is secured into position by means of screws 9, the

spaced side wall having openings in alinement with the screws 9 to permit the insertion of a screw driver.

Attention is now directed to the structure illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive. In this structure as in the rst described structure there is provided a casing I i having a top portion Ilot of rectangular form with depending side walls IIb along its sides. At one end of the casing I I underneath the top portion IIa and between the side walls I Ib there is positioned a punch frame I2 which is channel shaped in section and disposed on its side with the base portion, designated I2a, at its outer side adjacent the edges of the side walls lib. The upper wall, designated IZb, is spaced slightly belowV the top portion I I so as to form therewith a slit, designated A. Rearwardly or inwardly from the punch frame I2 the top portion IIctI is provided with a slot IIc, the rear margin of which is bent downwardly so as to form a guide IIo extending to the upper wall I2b of the punch frame, so that the slot I Ic communicated with the slit A.

The web formed between the slot IIc and the adjacent end of the top portion IIa is provided with a pair of die elements Hd positioned at its extremities near the side walls IIb. The die elements Hd register with holes I2c provided in the upper and lower walls of the punch frame I2. These holes slidably receive the Shanks I3'w of punch members I3. The upper ends of the punch members are beveled, as indicated by I3b, so as to coact with the die elements, while the lower ends thereof are provided with button portions I 3c. frame the Shanks I3a of the punch members are provided with pins I5 which limit the downward movements thereof. Between the pins I5 and the upper wall I2b there are mounted springs I4.

The web having the die elements IId therein 10 is also provided with a pair of slots IIe. At its opposite end the top portion IIa is provided with a series of slits paralleling the corresponding end so as to form webs I If, I Ig and I Ih. The margins of the second web Ilg are turned down- 15 wardly so as to form an arcuate guide over which the strips of restaurant checks are passed. The margin of the innermost slit beyond the web I Ih is bent downwardly so as to form an inclined portion II7`. The inclined portion I I1' extends down- 20 wardly far enough to catch the extremity of a strip of restaurant checks so as to deiiect the extremity upwardly and over the central portion of the top IIa.

The several slits formed in the top portion IIa 25 terminate inwardly from the margin thereof, the width of the top portion being slightly larger than the width of the checks it is adapted to receive. The extremities of the top wall I2b o1' the punch frame are provided with upturned lugs 30 I2d which not only serve to space the punch frame a xed distance from the top portion I la but also to form guides for the sides of the checks. The punch frame is secured in position by means of depending portions at the extremity of its lower 35 wall which are positioned against the side walls I Ib of the casing and may be spot welded thereto.

The casing II is supported in a manner similar to the casing I, there being provided near the upper margin of one side wall a pair of stop 40 lugs IIIc below which are means for receiving screws I6.

In order to center the roll of checks the side walls IIb are provided with inwardly extending boss portions Ilm which receive therebetween a 45 spindle I1. Axial shifting of the outer portion of the roll of checks is prevented by means of radiating ridges Iln extending from the bosses The restaurant check used in conjunction with 50 either embodiment of my holder is particularly arranged so as to be connected end to end in order to form a roll. Each restaurant check, designated 2|, is provided with a space across its upper or extended end which receives char- 5.3 acters designating a serial number and the seat number, as well as a blank space in which may be placed the waiters initials. Below this portion the check is provided with two spaced apart columns of figures 2Ia and 2| b which are dis- 00 posed inwardly from the side margins of the check and are adapted to register with the slots 3e or IIe. rThe characters represent different possible charges. The columns are dividedA into rows segregating the several characters and there- 65 by forming blank spaces 2 Ic at the extremities of each row which register with the die elements 3b or IIb so that these spaces may be punched, as indicated by 2id.

The check is fed through the punching mecha- 70 nism by` pressure of the fingers thereupon over the central portion of these tops la or I Ia. When the proper character is exposed by one or the other of the slots 3e or IIe, the corresponding punch is operated so as to mark the check. 75

Between the side walls of the punch 5 Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, and a certain modification thereof, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, nor to the modification, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s:

1. In a restaurant check holder, a casing consisting of a flat straight top portion and depending side walls only, means for supporting a roll of. restaurant checks between said side walls, guide and friction means incorporated in the top portion of said casing arranged to threadably receive an end of said roll of restaurant checks, and a hole punching mechanism associated with said guide means.

2. In a holder and a restaurant check therefor, a multiplicity of restaurant checks attached end to end to form a roll, each restaurant check'having price indicia along its central portion and punch receiving spaces along both of its borders, a casing for receiving said roll of restaurant checks and enclosing only a portion, a guide means incorporated in said casing arranged to threadably receive an end of said roll of restaurant checks, and a punch mechanism associated with said i guide means including punch elements adapted to register with both of the borders of said restaurant checks.

3. In a holder and a restaurant check therefor, a multiplicity of restaurant checksI attached end to end to form a roll, each restaurant check having price indicia along its central portion and punch receiving spaces along both of its borders, a casing consisting of a flat straight top portion and depending side walls only, a spindle carried by saidside walls for revolubly supporting said roll of restaurant checks between the side walls, guide means incorporated in the top portion of said casing arranged to threadably receive an end of said roll of restaurant checks, and a punch mechanism associated with said guide means including punch elements adapted to register with both of the borders of said restaurant checks.4

4. In a restaurant check holder, a casing -for only partially enclosing and supporting a roll of restaurant checks, friction means incorporated in a wall of said casing for receiving an end of said roll of restaurant checks, a punch mechanism operatively associated with said friction means, said punching mechanism comprising, a punch frame, a die frame positioned above said punch frame and forming therewith a slit for receiving said restaurant checks, die elements formed in said die frame, and punch members carried by said punch frame adapted to be shifted upwardly across said slit into coactive relation with said die elements.

means incorporated in the top portion of said 5 casing arranged to threadably receive an end of said roll of restaurant checks, a punch mechanism operatively associated with said guide means, said Vpunching mechanism comprising, a punch frame,

a. die frame positioned above said punch frame l0 and forming therewith a slit for receiving said restaurant checks, die elements formed in said die frame, andpunch members carried by said punch frame adapted to be shifted upwardly across said slit into coactive relation with said die l5 elements.

6. In a. holder and a restaurant check therefor,

a multiplicity" of restaurant checks attached end to end to iorm a roll, each restaurant check having price indicia along its central portion and 20 punch receiving spaces along its borders only, a casing for receiving said roll of restaurant checks,

a guide means incorporated in said casing arranged to threadably receive an end of said roll of restaurant checks, a. punch mechanism as- 25 sociated with said guide means including punch elements adapted to register with the borders only of said restaurant checks, said punch mechanism comprising, a punch frame, a die frame positioned above said punch frame and forming therewith a 30 slit for receiving said restaurant checks, die elements formed in said die frame, and punch members carried by said punch frame adapted to be shifted upwardly across said slit into coactive relation with said die elements, said punch members 35 and die elements being positioned in registry with the margins only of said restaurant checks.

7. In a holder and a restaurant check therefor, a multiplicity of restaurant checks attached end to end to form a roll, each restaurant check 40 having price indicia along its central portion and punch receiving spaces along its borders, a casing consisting of a top portion and depending side walls, a spindle carried by said side walls for revolubly supporting said roll of restaurant checks 45 between the side walls, guide means incorporated in the top portion of said casing arranged to threadably receive an end of said roll of restaurant checks, a punch mechanism associated with said guide means including punch elements adapted to register with the borders only of said restaurant checks, said punch mechanism comprising, a punch frame, a die frame positioned above said punch frame and forming therewith a slit for receiving said restaurant checks, die elements formed in said die frame, and punch members carried by said punch frame adapted to be shifted upwardly across said slit into coactive relation vwith said die elements, said punch members and die elements being positioned in registry with the margins only of said restaurant checks.

EVANGEL A. HAVELES. 

